Chelsea Women head coach Emma Hayes has refused to check whether star striker Sam Kerr has played his last game for the club after undergoing surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered last week.
Kerr had travelled to Agadir with the rest of the Chelsea squad last week to train in warm weather during the winter break of the Women’s Super League season. On Saturday night, the club announced in a news release that Kerr had suffered an ACL injury.
When Hayes left her Chelsea post this summer after 12 years at the helm of the vacant U. S. women’s national team coaching position, she stepped down. In the U. S. , questions arose about whether Kerr, whose contract expires in June 2024, would follow suit. outside. He will play again this season after scoring 99 goals in 128 appearances for the club, winning ten trophies with Hayes.
“I think with the announcement last week, Sam is in rehab right now,” Hayes told reporters today. “I’m sure when the time comes to talk about his future, that moment will come from Sam and the club. Sam “He loves Chelsea, and Chelsea loves Sam, so I think that’s the most important thing I can say about it. “
Kerr signed for Chelsea in November 2019, first on a two-and-a-half-year contract until 2022. In November 2021, he extended his tenure at the club for another two years, saying: “I don’t see myself going anywhere else. “In the World Cup or leaving Europe, I have what I have at Chelsea. It was the right time, honestly, I didn’t need to rush anything, it’s like signing here the first time, it was natural.
Australia’s all-time leading scorer and national team captain endured a frustrating summer when a calf injury ruled her out of the Women’s World Cup in her home country on the eve of the tournament. He returned to start the semi-final against England, scoring a great goal to score the score at a time when Australia lost.
She had hoped to lead her country again this summer at the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, but the injury means she will have no chance of recovering in time to play her third consecutive Games in six months’ time.
It had been suggested by an Australia sports doctor that Kerr could avoid surgery and play at the Olympics if she signed up to a revolutionary procedure which would involve putting her knee in a brace to allow the ligament to heal naturally. However Hayes ruled that out when she confirmed that Kerr underwent surgery today.
“I’m tired for him, tired for the team. These things happen in football, she knows that. I think what’s vital is that we’re there for her and that the recovery, the rehab starts today,” Hayes also revealed. that Kerr’s injury occurred “while he was performing a football action that he does every day: turning around and shooting, anything very undeniable and harmless. “
In the absence of regular captain Millie Bright, Hayes passed the armband to Kerr, proving his importance as a team leader. Hayes insisted he would remain in London for the time being and then return with his family to Australia. Of course he has to be there, we do about 8 hours of rehab every day!” joked Hayes. “No, she’ll be there. “
Kerr has scored nine goals for Chelsea so far this season, and once she set the tone again in the Women’s Super League, she is looking to win for a fifth consecutive season. Five of Kerr’s goals came in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the only trophy. The club has never won. As the winter break approached, Kerr was the most level-headed goalscorer in the competition along with FC Barcelona’s Salma Paralluelo.
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN – DECEMBER 20: Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring her … [+] team’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage match between BK Häcken FF and Chelsea FC Women at Hisingen Arena on December 20, 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Speaking to Seven News in Australia, Kerr’s father Roger revealed his daughter’s state of mind. “It was pretty disappointing, upsetting, so we had a couple of restless nights. I think she’s a bit numb. It’s coming up to the Olympics and Olympic qualifiers in February.”
“He had some kind of injury at the World Cup and now we were all on the hunt and Australia was on the hunt for the Olympics. . . It’s bad news. ” He added that healing from an anterior cruciate ligament injury takes “12 months to recover . . . Hopefully, in 2025 he’ll be able to get back on the pitch. “
Without Kerr, Hayes may at least be able to call upon the United States international Catarina Macario for the first time since signing her from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer. Macario herself has not played since suffering her own ACL injury 18 months ago but was pictured training with the squad in Agadir last week.
AGADIR, MOROCCO – JANUARY 5: Chelsea’s Catarina Macario in action at a Chelsea FC women’s education consultation. [] Training consultation at the Adrar stadium on January 5, 2024 in Agadir, Morocco. Images)
“Cat Macario will be available for the second part of the season. For those of you who haven’t seen Cat play, keep in mind that she’s a wonderful player,” Hayes boasted today. Sessions in Morocco, albeit gradually, not in full-team education, but in component education. It will be the same today, she will be in the education component. “
“I think the first part, in the next few weeks, will be the reintroduction and I think Chelsea enthusiasts can expect to see it very soon. “Hayes also showed that no other player on his team has suffered injuries lately. German foreigner Sjoeke Nüsken missed the educational camp due to the flu but has returned to education.